Wire stretcher



Jan. 4, 1927. 1,613,209

N. O. THORP WIRE STRETCHER Filed June 5. 1926 Patented dan. 1l,

unirse statiiis` NOAH O. TEGR?,

Ol? CLEO, TEXAS.

WIRE STRETCHER.

Application filed June 5,

This invention relates to wire strctchers and more particularly to a device for stret rhing and holding tence wire while applying the same to a post.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device oi this character' so constructed that when the wire is properly stretched and ready ifor'stapling to the post, the stretching device may he released with the hands` so that the hands are tree for the stapling operation and still hold the wire in its proper position.

A further object ot the invention is to provide a device ot' this character which may he readily so constructed that it embodies all of the necessary accessories to the stapling operation.

A still further ohject ot the invention is to provide a device of this character which may he readily and cheaply produced. which will he durable and etiicient in service and a general improvement in the art.

These and other objects I attain hy the construction shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose ot illus tration is shown a preferred embodiment ot my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a plan view showing a wire stretcher constructed in accordance with my invention positioned to stretch wire for attachment to a post;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 2 Figure 1;

Figure Figure 1;

Figure 4t is a section on the line i-l Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing,v the numeral 1() `generally designates a loar Jformed at one end to provide divergent nail claws 11 curving from one side tace ot the har and the opposite end ot this lever is formed as one j aw 12 ot a wire cutter and has pivoted thereto a lever 13. one end of which is 1formed as the second jaw 14 ot the cutters and the opposite end of which provides a handle 15.

To the bar adjacent the first mentioned end thereof is secured' a housing` 16 which extends transversel)7 of the lever and provides a guide opening 17 through which is directed a rack har 18. Within the housing at the opposite tace of the bar 18 from the rack teeth are disposed rollers 19 tor is a section on the line Sc'al N0. 113,383.

engagement with this 'tace oit the har t0 reduce the t'riction of the har in the guide. (lne end ot the bar is provided vwith ahead 20 to engage against one end ot the housing and limit the movement ot the har .in one direction while the opposite end oi the har is torn'ied as a cam 4face 21 having a reduced extension 2 uponv which is pivoted a cam wire grip 23. This cam wire grip has at its upper tare a lug 24rwhich, when the wire grip is in the gripping positioiL overlies the upper surface et the rack har 1S adjaceiit the cam and prevents the escape ot' a wire 'trom between the cam 23 and cam face 21. 'Vhen the cam 23 is in the releasing position, this lug is spaced trom the har, so that the wire may he disengaged from hetween the cam tao-e and cam by a movement perpendicular to the har. Rotatahly mounted upon that side face ot the har 10 over which the rack har extends is a gear 25 havingl a handle 26 secured thereto whereby it may be rotated. The teeth of this gear engage with 'the teeth oit the rack and provide means 'for longitudinally shitting the rack to tension the wire. Then the wire is properly tensioned. it may loe held in position by a pawl 2T which engages in the teeth ot the gear.

In use of the device, the bar 10 is applied to one face ot the post 2S to which the wire is to he attached and the wire grip 23 is engaged with the wire. At this time, the head 2O of the rack har should engage against the rack loar housing and the application ot the wire should he made with the wire stretched to the greatest possible extent by the hand. The loar 10 is then employed as a lever to further stretch the wire and when the wire has been stretched to the desired extent by the har 10, the loar 10 is held against return movement by swinging a pivoted cant dog 29 engaged with the bar 10, as at 30, so that it engages with the post 28. The end of this cant dog is provided with forked prongs 31 which engage the post at opposite sides of the wire being stretched.y so that the holding pressure is applied in a line through the cant dog and tendency ot the lever to slip upon the post is prevented. The handle 26 is then employed to rotate the gear 25, shifting the rack har to further tension the wire until the desired tension has been ohtained. The rack bar is then held against movement by the pawl 27 and the operator may then entirely release the device and ernploy hoih hands in the stnihiling operation.

It will, oil course, he obvious that the construction hereinhefore set forth is ohriously capable of e. Certain range ot change and modification Without materially departing from the spirit ot the invention und I accordingly do not lilnit inyseltl to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

4I claim:-

l. .ln i1 wire stretcher, n nmin har adapted at one end for engagement with n post, e housing secured te said har adjacent seid end and extending transversely 0i the main bnr. e ruck liar slidahly directed through said housing and having :it one end n, wire grip.r l:i gear pireted to the inziin hzir and meshing with the teeth et" the reel( har, an arni secured to seid gear whereby it may he rotated? means for maintaining the rack har in adjusted positions and :i cent dog pivoted to the main har :1t n point beyond the rack har from said end of the nmin hair and adapted to engage with the post.

2. In a Wire stretcher, a 11min her zuhtped at one end for engagement with n pese :i housing secured to said har adjacent su, d end and extending transversely ot the main bar, L rack har slidahly directed through said housing and having at one end e wire grip, a gear piroted t0 the 11min har and meshing with the teeth of the rack lun", zin arm secured to said gear whereby it muy he rotated. ineens for maintaining the reel; bei' in adjusted positions und n anni dog pivoted to the 11min han' at :i point beyond the ruck har 'troni said end oi the ninin our unil adapted to engage with (he pest, the post engaging end of said cant dog being hi-A fureated to straddle the wire engaged 'hy the grip of said rack her.

In testimony whereof hereunto aix nay signature.

NOAH O. THOR?. 

